Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received in Ankara on Wednesday head of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj to discuss the latest political developments in the North African country.
Turkish presidential sources said that Sarrj informed Erdogan of the efforts to achieve national consensus among the country’s political powers in order to resolve the current crisis. The solution should be based on building a civil state and unifying the military and other sovereign institutions.
He also confirmed to his host that elections will be held before the end of the year.
For his part, Erdogan stressed that Turkey supports the democratic process in Libya and backs the choices of its people.
He added that Ankara was ready to help in restoring stability and security in Libya.
A GNA statement said that the current Libyan division must not continue, noting that there can be no military solution to the crisis.
Erdogan then hosted Sarraj to a dinner banquet that included the Arab and African diplomatic corps in Turkey. Sarraj informed the envoys of the political, security and economic challenges facing Libya.
Erdogan has last hosted Sarraj in Istanbul in November during a visit that had raised questions about the rapprochement between Ankara and Tripoli.
Erdogan and Sarraj met shortly after United Nations envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame announced that the National Conference that will bring together representatives of rival authorities in the country has been set for April 14-16.
The factions from both east and west will meet to set dates for parliamentary and presidential elections and discuss solutions to the country’s conflict, he told a press conference in Tripoli.
Some 120 to 150 Libyans will take part in the gathering in the town of Ghadames, near the border with Algeria, he continued. The conference will not include any foreign parties.
The UN hopes for "a new beginning for the country for stability."